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Jaqui's Daily Blog

The Game of Life occupied us for quite a long time yesterday. It wasn't exactly a lifetime but, as games go, it definitely had Staying Power. Certainly it took over most of Boxing Day afternoon.

It was a pity that only two of us managed to produce off-spring (I was one of the fortunates, gathering Herman, Hans and Heidi along the way - yes, indeed, I was in touch with my Inner German) and nobody chose to be the police officer,
which I thought was a Missed Opportunity as it meant we weren't able to yodel "Nee-na! Nee-na!" at strategic moments over the course of the game.

The Youngest of the Darling Daughters was a trifle miffed because,
not only was she landed with being in charge of the bank, but she also spent the whole game on a salary of a trifling 20k a year while the rest of us were rolling in throughly undeserved riches. She was only slightly mollified when she totted up money gained
from significant life events and found herself hoisted into third place, mostly on account of winning the Nobel Peace Prize and writing a blockbuster of a novel.

Yes, indeed, it is that kind of game and, if
you have never played it then I hope I have excited your interest - although I am realistic enough to realise that, possibly, I may have only convinced you to stick to chess / Scrabble / any other game which isn't the Game of Life.

On Christmas Day itself, we had driven to the home of the Eldest of the Darling Daughters and her family. On the way there, large signs warned us to slow down on account of "Animals On Road". Mr B remarked that it was doubtless the
reindeer on their way back to the North Pole. Why Santa thought it a good idea to travel home via the M25, I can't imagine.

What a perfect Christmas Day! We sat down at the table for dinner at 1 p.m. and were
still sitting there ten hours later, having eaten, opened presents and enjoyed the customary Christmas Concert performed by the beautiful and talented Swift Girls, Katie and Eleanor. For Mr B, a day of pure pleasure without the usual daily challenges thanks
to a trusty wheelchair and the attentiveness of our hosts, all four of them. For me, a day to relax, to eat, drink and be merry in the very best of company.

We drove home on Boxing Day morning, just an hour
or two before Team Baldwin arrived with the Game of Life, a joint of beef, carrots and sprouts, an apple pie and Bucks Fizz. Unfortunately, I had failed to carry out my side of the bargain, having no forgotten to provide such basics as gravy powder and custard
though, in my defence, I did peel the potatoes in advance. My long-suffering Son In Law was despatched to the garage shop not just once, but twice, for Essential Supplies. At any one time there were no fewer than six of us in our kitchen getting in each other's
way - despite this our Boxing Day dinner was Perfectly Cooked and Truly Delicious.

Today was our Third Christmas, when The Rascal and The Twinkles arrived to entertain us. I have decided to delegate the writing
of tomorrow's Daily Blog to Young Faris which will give you all something to look forward to. I'll be busy, anyway, enjoying a Fourth Christmas with my (Not So Very Little) Welsh Boys. I know, I know, it does sound as if I am extremely greedy but, as I always
say, why have one Christmas Day when you could have four?

If life is, indeed, a game then this Christmas I am very definitely on the winning side.